Most people think they understand eating disorders. But a lot of what we hear is outdated, simplified, or just plain wrong. These myths don’t just misinform—they can delay treatment, fuel shame, and make recovery harder. This article breaks down the most common misunderstandings and explains what eating disorders really look like, who they affect, and how they work. Whether you’re supporting someone you care about or rethinking your own relationship with food, understanding the truth is the first step toward compassion and change.
1. Eating disorders only affect thin, white teenage girls
This stereotype is harmful and false. Eating disorders affect people of all body sizes, genders, ages, races, and backgrounds. Men make up about 25% of those with anorexia or bulimia and 36% of those with binge eating disorder. In communities of color, eating disorders are often underdiagnosed due to racial bias and lack of access to care. Older adults and children can also struggle, though they are often overlooked in media portrayals. These illnesses don’t discriminate—and assuming they do causes people to suffer in silence.
2. You can tell someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them
Weight and appearance do not tell the full story. Someone can live in a larger body and still have anorexia, or be a normal weight and struggle with bulimia or binge eating disorder. Many people with disordered eating look “healthy” by societal standards. This myth is dangerous because it leads to delayed diagnosis. Doctors and families may ignore symptoms just because a person doesn’t “look” sick. Eating disorders are mental illnesses with physical consequences, and they don’t always show up on the surface.
3. Eating disorders are a choice or a lifestyle
Eating disorders are not about vanity, attention, or control in the way people often think. These are serious mental health conditions, and they’re rarely about food alone. Genetics, trauma, environment, and neurobiology all play a role. The behaviors—whether restricting, bingeing, or purging—often serve as a way to cope with emotional pain or stress. Calling it a choice suggests the person could stop at any time, which adds shame and ignores the deep psychological roots. No one chooses to be sick.
4. Only people with anorexia need serious help
Anorexia tends to get the most media coverage, but it is just one type of eating disorder. Bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), and OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder) can all cause serious health problems and emotional distress. Binge eating disorder, for example, is the most common eating disorder in the U.S., yet it’s often dismissed as a lack of willpower instead of a real condition. Every type of eating disorder deserves recognition and treatment.
5. Recovery means gaining weight and eating normally
Recovery is about far more than food. Weight restoration may be necessary in some cases, but mental and emotional healing are just as important. Obsessive thoughts, food guilt, fear of weight gain, and body image issues can persist even after someone reaches a healthy weight. True recovery involves unlearning harmful beliefs, rebuilding self-worth, and learning to relate to food and your body in a new way. It’s a process, not a single goalpost.
6. Parents are always to blame for their child’s eating disorder
While family dynamics can influence mental health, blaming parents is both unfair and unhelpful. Eating disorders are complex and multi-layered. They often involve a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors. Parents can be allies in the recovery process, especially when they are educated about the illness and supported by professionals. The narrative that parents “caused” the disorder can break trust and prevent families from working together toward healing.
7. You have to be underweight to be taken seriously
This belief is not only wrong, it’s dangerous. Many people with eating disorders are overlooked because they don’t meet the BMI criteria for underweight. But people at any weight can suffer from restrictive eating, purging, bingeing, or compulsive exercise. Waiting for someone to lose more weight before they “qualify” for care allows the disorder to get worse. All disordered eating deserves attention, no matter what the scale says.
Final Thoughts
Eating disorders are often misunderstood, and myths only make it harder for people to seek help. By challenging these false beliefs, we can create a more informed, compassionate approach to eating disorder care. Understanding the truth allows us to see past stereotypes and recognize the real struggles people face. If you or someone you know is living with an eating disorder, know that help is available, and recovery is possible—at any size, any age, and any stage of life.
